Means for capping posts and the like



M. c. STORMS 2,230,392

MEANS FOR CAPPING POSTS AND THE LIKE v Feb. 4, 1941.-

Filed Nov. 17., 1939 .5 mM m TD..\ M mU/o W m E E F/ R w Y post or likewill offer considerable extended Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATESPATENT} OFFICE 2 Claims.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a capping means forpiles, posts and like that is economical in manufacture and durable andefficient in use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a means for capping postsand the like that may be accomplished on posts of various types anddiameters.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a means forcapping posts, securing the cap to the post and fastening a cross beamor like to the capped end of the post.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Myinvention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination ofthe various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claimsand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a post or like suitably capped withmy device and with a cross beam or like resting on and secured to thecap member and post.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my cap before the same has been cut to fita post, pile, beam or like for a specific diameter.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a post or' like capped with my device.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a dowel bar that may be used for holding thecap to the post or like and a cross beam or like on the end of the postor like.

It is well known that weather seriously affects the useful life ofposts, piles, cylindrical poles, beams and like. In most instances, suchposts or like are installed in a vertical condition with their tops cuttransversely and exposed to the elements. Obviously rain, snow and likeattacks 40 and runs down into the top of the post from its top surface.In the top surface of the post will be found the softest and most porousparts of the post and these exposed sections of th post will be the onesmost easily attacked by the elements. Obviously the outer skin surfaceof the Such posts are usually of circular construction in cross sectionand it is to the tops of such posts that I secure .my cap which Iwillnow describe. The numeral ll generally designates my metallic cap cutand bent to flt various sizes of posts. This member II is first of discconstruction, as shown in Fig. 2 and may be of any suitable nonrustingmetal, suchas copper, galvanized iron or like. The numeral I2 designatesa plurality of evenly spaced apart radially extending marks on the upperouter rim portion of the disc portion II, as shown in Fig. 2. Theseradial marks may be stamped, painted, embossed or otherwise placed onthe disc I I. One or more circles I3 may also be marked on the uppersurface of the disc 15 II, the same to be concentric with the disc. Toinstall my post cap, it is merely necessary to note the approximatediameter of the top of the post to be capped. The disc is then cutaccordingly by tin snips or like on the radial marked lines I2. Theinner cut area in the center of the disc II should be of a diameterslightly greater than that of the diameter of the top of the post.Obviously if the diameter of the post is comparatively great, the cutson the lines I2 will be very shallow while on the other hand, if thediameter of the post to be capped is comparatively small, the cuts onthe lines I2 are extensive and perhaps even to the line I3, as shown inFi 2.. The lengths of the cuts, of course, will depend entirely upon thediameter of the post to be cut. After the disc II has been suitably cuton the lines II, the segments so formed around the periphery of the discII are bent downwardly at right angles, thus changing the disc II intoan inverted cup element. Obviously by bending these sections of theouter portion of the disc II downwardly, the sections will overlap eachother, as shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, I have used the numeral I4 'todesignate these downwardly extending sections and the numeral I5 todesignate the cut lines that created these sections I4. To install mydevice, it is merely necessary to place the inverted cup member over thetop of the post to be capped and drive nails I6 through the lower endportions of the sections I4. If th sections I 4 overlap, the nailsshould be driven through the overlapping portions so that'each nail willpass through two sections and into the post I0. Ob- 50 viously thesenails will not only secure the cap rigidly to the post, but will holdthesections It in lapped formation downwardly and around the cylindricalside of the post III, as shown in Fig. 3. Tar, asphalt, or like may beplaced on the upper portion 0! the post before my cap is placed thereon,if desired.

In many instances, timbers or beam I! are placed across the tops of suchposts M as shown in Fig. 1. When this is done, I recommend the use of mydowel pin II. This pin has a washer I! fixed around its center portionand also is provided with swedges or prongs 20 as shown in Fig. 4. Theseprongs 20 on each side of the washer is extend outwardly and toward thewasher as shown in Fig. 4. When this dowel pin is used, a hole 2| may beplaced in the top center of the disc ll.

After the cap has been placed on the top of the post, the dowelpin isdriven downwardly through this hole 2| into the post III. If desired, ahole may be drilled in the top of the post for the reception of thelower end of this pin. In any event, the upwardly and outwardlyextending members 20 on the pin will prevent its removal. The washer I9will engage the center top of the cap cup member as shown in Fig. 1,thereby holding the central portion of the cap downwardly on the top ofthe post. A hole may be drilled in the beam I! for the reception of theupper end portion of the dowel pin as shown in Fig. l. The prongs 20 onthe upper end portion of the pin will prevent the removal of the beam IIfrom the dowel pin. By this construction, the member I! and member IDwill be rigidly held together with the upper end of the post in encasedby the cap.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of myimproved means for capping posts without departing from the real spiritand purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by myclaims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalentswhich may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination with a post element and a timber element, a means forsecuring the ends of said two elements together comprising, an invertedcup member having a circular central area between the two ends of saidtwo elements and downwardly bent overlapping segments embracing the endof said post element, nails extending through said segments at pointswhere they overlap and into said elements surrounded by said segments, adowel pinextending through the center of said cup member having one endpenetrating the end of one of said elements and its other endpenetrating the end of the other said element, a washer element securedto the central portion of said dowel pin and engaging the top center ofsaid inverted cup member, prongs .on the upper end portion of said dowelpin extending downwardly and outwardly, and prongs on the lower portionof said dowel pin extending upwardly and outwardly.

2. In combination with the end of a post, a cap means, comprising, aninverted cup member having a circular central area extending over thetop of said post and downwardly extending overlapping segments, andnails extending through said segments at points where said segmentsoverlap; each nail extending through at least two segments.

MARK C. STORMS.

